CULDROSE AVIATORS ON ANGLO FRENCH ADVENTURE

A Tri-Service exercise designed to test the Anglo-French working partnership has completed today after a fortnight of exercising on sea, land and air.

Eight warships from the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale took part - Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark, HMS Sutherland, as well as RFA Lyme Bay and French frigates FS Cassard and La Motte-Picquet, helicopter carrier Dixmude and tanker Var.

Exercise Griffin Strike demonstrated how UK and French maritime, land and air forces can work together for a wide range of operations and, if called upon, unite as part of a NATO, EU or UN coalition.

From the Bristol Channel to the Solent, Griffin Strike featured Royal Marines from 3 Commando Brigade attacking via sea and air, working with aircraft from all three Armed Forces. Once ashore they linked up with UK and French land forces to continue the exercise on land.